11 Best Restaurants in The Gulf Coast Beaches, Thailand

This Israeli-run joint brings a mouthwatering taste of the Levant to Thailand's most venerable beach enclave. While the smoky aroma of meat, fish, and kebabs grilling over charcoal make this a heaven for carnivores, vegans are equally well-fed with a selection of salads, dips, and righteous falafel and hummus plates. 

Pattaya's reputation as a top spot for sampling seafood is given fresh impetus at this lively restaurant. The venue is open daily for lunch, but it comes alive on weekend nights when gourmands flock to its seafood buffet, which is a kingly affair starring superfresh morsels served in an underwater-inspired space popping with eclectic artworks. 

El Greco brings a taste of the Ionian to the tropics. The emphasis is on prime ingredients perfectly cooked: a simple creed that is executed via offerings such as shrimp saganaki (shrimp with feta, fresh oregano, tomatoes, and olive oil) and giant souvlaki platters 

Regulars pack the room at this elegant Indian restaurant, which honors Pattaya's bountiful seafood supply with such dishes as a comforting fish curry and a crab masala special that's an absolute must when it's available. Service is attentive but never overbearing, living up to the awards this local favorite has earned since it opened in 2004.

As if striving to please every last one of the island's international visitors, this fun restaurant serves entrées from around the world. The specialty, though, is grilled seafood, prepared with one of 12 sauces; select your fish and sauce, then enjoy the breeze from the ceiling fans while you await your food.

For a different side of Pattaya, head north of the city to this beautiful, romantic seafood restaurant that sits right on the waterfront. The almost exclusively Thai clientele enjoys hand-picked lobster, tiger prawns, crab, oysters, and fish amid shimmering pools, palm trees, and sweeping bay views.

At the southern end of Pattaya Beach Road is one of the city's best places for seafood. A huge array of freshly caught fish is laid out on blocks of ice at the entrance; point to what you want, explain how you'd like it cooked (most people prefer grilled), and ask for some fried rice on the side for a flawless meal.

Sati Pot lays a strong claim to be Thailand’s finest Persian restaurant. Such is its reputation that it is often necessary to make a booking for a table. The food justifies the hype. Lamb shank is slow-cooked in saffron and yogurt sauce and served with aromatic rice mixed with crushed pistachio and almonds, caramelized onion, paprika, and raisins. Another highlight is bandari shrimp, a dish with origins in the coastal regions of southern Iran. Plump crustaceans are sauteed with ginger and garlic and nudged towards the stratosphere by a tangy green herb sauce.   

The view is definitely what you come here for—high up on a mountain, the restaurant juts out above the beach and the turquoise ocean—but the food is also memorable. Check the seafood tank as you walk in; you might spy something you can't resist.

This sleek, modern restaurant overlooking the Dusit Thani resort's expansive pool and shimmering Pattaya Bay offers an "international skewers" concept with a wide variety of Chinese, Thai, and Western takes on grilled meat, seafood, and vegetables on skewers.

Top-notch Thai cuisine and a relaxing tropical setting await guests at this beachfront restaurant, which offers laid-back charm, superlative service, and high-quality cooking.